CHEM 210 BIOCHEMISTRY - M1: Problem Set
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1. What are three ways that biochemists study biological organisms?: Biochemists
study 1) the relationship between structure and function of biomolecules, 2) chemical reactions of organisms (metab-
olism), and 3) communication within and among organisms.
2. What is the definition of biochemistry?: Often referred to as the chemistry of life, biochemistry
asks how the remarkable properties of organisms relate to their molecules.
3. What is another name for firefly?: lightning bug
4. Is Li an element common in biological organisms?: No. See Figure 1.3 for the common
elements.
5. What is known as the "medium of life"?: Water
6. What is the bond angle associated with trigonal pyramidal shape?: 107.5 degrees
7. Are transition metals commonly found in biological organisms?: Yes. They are trace
elements in organisms. See Figure 1.3 for examples.
8. True or false: Water can make up 85% (by mass) of a living organism.: True. Some
plants are made up of 90% water by mass.
9. True or false: Large elements tend to make the strongest covalent bonds.: False.
Smaller elements tend to make the strongest bonds due to significant overlap.
10. Name three bulk elements. Name three trace elements.: Bulk elements: H, C, N, O, Na,
P, S, Cl, K, and Ca, Trace elements: Mg, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo, I, and W.
11. Differentiate between inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry.: Organic
chemistry is the study of carbon-based compounds. Inorganic chemistry is the study of all other elements.
12. Is H2O an organic molecule? How about CO2? C100H202?: Water is not organic; it
does not contain carbon. Both CO2 and C100H202 are organic compounds.
13. The next row of Table 1 would be the 6-carbon alkane, hexane. Write out
its chemical formula and condensed formula.: chemical formula: C6H14, Condensed formula:
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3
14. On your own paper, draw the Kekule structures and line-bond formulas
for both butane and hexane. When you have drawn the structures, enter a
note in the answer box indicating you have done so (e.g., "I completed these
drawings." Or "I drew the structures for butane and hexane."):
15. How are the aldehyde and ketone functional groups similar? Different?: Alde-
hdyes and ketones both have a carbon double bond oxygen arrangement (C=O) in their structure. They differ in that
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Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9dsf8n
1. What are three ways that biochemists study biological organisms?: Biochemists
study 1) the relationship between structure and function of biomolecules, 2) chemical reactions of organisms (metab-
olism), and 3) communication within and among organisms.
2. What is the definition of biochemistry?: Often referred to as the chemistry of life, biochemistry
asks how the remarkable properties of organisms relate to their molecules.
3. What is another name for firefly?: lightning bug
4. Is Li an element common in biological organisms?: No. See Figure 1.3 for the common
elements.
5. What is known as the "medium of life"?: Water
6. What is the bond angle associated with trigonal pyramidal shape?: 107.5 degrees
7. Are transition metals commonly found in biological organisms?: Yes. They are trace
elements in organisms. See Figure 1.3 for examples.
8. True or false: Water can make up 85% (by mass) of a living organism.: True. Some
plants are made up of 90% water by mass.
9. True or false: Large elements tend to make the strongest covalent bonds.: False.
Smaller elements tend to make the strongest bonds due to significant overlap.
10. Name three bulk elements. Name three trace elements.: Bulk elements: H, C, N, O, Na,
P, S, Cl, K, and Ca, Trace elements: Mg, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo, I, and W.
11. Differentiate between inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry.: Organic
chemistry is the study of carbon-based compounds. Inorganic chemistry is the study of all other elements.
12. Is H2O an organic molecule? How about CO2? C100H202?: Water is not organic; it
does not contain carbon. Both CO2 and C100H202 are organic compounds.
13. The next row of Table 1 would be the 6-carbon alkane, hexane. Write out
its chemical formula and condensed formula.: chemical formula: C6H14, Condensed formula:
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3
14. On your own paper, draw the Kekule structures and line-bond formulas
for both butane and hexane. When you have drawn the structures, enter a
note in the answer box indicating you have done so (e.g., "I completed these
drawings." Or "I drew the structures for butane and hexane."):
15. How are the aldehyde and ketone functional groups similar? Different?: Alde-
hdyes and ketones both have a carbon double bond oxygen arrangement (C=O) in their structure. They differ in that
1/2
